Books online

Some books are in the public domain and are available online.

General E-books

• Project Gutenberg Over 17,000 free e-books, mostly in the public domain.
• Google Books - search for books by title. Many classics available in entirety, others links to where they can be acquired. Also search for text or phrases in the text of books.
• Scribd A large collection of on-line books and documents.
• Internet archive Numerous Public domain books are available here on a multitude of topics, most date form before world war II.

History/Culture

• The Newstead Roman Fort excavation reports
• Internet Medieval Sourcebook Texts from medieval sources, including history and cultural life.

Literature

• The Internet Classics Archive Works of clssical literature, mainly Greco-Roman works (some Chinese and Persian), all in English translation.
• The Online Medieval and Classical Library A collection of some of the most important literary works of Classical and Medieval civilization.

Costume

• The History of Costume by Braun & Schneider - c.1861-1880 Color plates of engravings of costumes from ancient times to modern. From a Victorian perspective.
• Oriental Costumes Their Designs and Colors by Max Tilke Color plates of Oriental costume drawn from actual examples. Most of these are modern, but they offer clues to older garments, and lots of inspiration.

Crafts

• Singvliers Et Novveaux Povrtraicts by Federic Vinciolo A "Modelbuch" or pattern book for lace-making from 1606. These pattern could be easily adapted for embroidery.

Design

• The Grammar of Ornament by Owen Jones A Victorian book of design motifs from many times and cultures.

• Lindisfarne Gospels The Lindisfarne Gospels, one of the most magnificent manuscripts of the early Middle Ages, was written and decorated at the end of the 7th century. Stunning Celtic/Anglo-Saxon illuminations.

• Golden Haggadah A beautiful medieval Jewish prayer-book from 14th century Spain.

Cooking

• Historical Culinary & Brewing Documents Online Links to old culinary & brewing texts in several languages, some with translations. 14th-19th centuries.

Combat

• THE ARMARIUM: Online Historical Fencing Manuals & Texts Selections from historical fencing manuals and other texts for fighting instruction.